1962-04-XX [?] Nashville, Starday/King studios, TN

It is claimed in ‘Becoming Jimi Hendrix’ that Hendrix & Cox attempted to cut a demo at this time, but this appears to be a mix up for the 1963 session where ‘Hoss’ Allan cut Hendrix’ guitar. They don’t give a source.

Billy Cox: "Jimi Hendrix and I posed as janitors to hear a Bobby Blue Bland rehearsal...This is how we did it:
Jimi and I knew that we were so good that it was just a matter of time before being discovered. We had found out that Blues Great, Bobby Blue Bland would be rehearsing at The Club Baron for a recording session the next day...So Jimi and I, with our guitars, went to the Baron that afternoon hoping to catch the rehearsal... And if we were lucky, maybe a way would open for us to play for Bobby....Keep in mind by this time Bobby is a giant in the African American community and will remain a giant until he makes his transition in 2013...You just did not get any bigger than Bobby Blue Bland...Nashvillian Bobby Hebb (who will write one of the most recorded songs in history, ‘Sunny’, also Lou Rawls', ‘A Natural Man’), well his brother, Harold Hebb, a friend, was building manager of The Baron. Harold was there when Jimi and I arrived and he tells us that we can not sit in on the rehearsal because Bobby's team will not allow it. I saw a broom in the corner and grabbed it, the three of us started laughing. We knew what we were going to do...God bless him, Harold placed our cases out of sight and showed us to the mop/broom closet. Jimi and I got buckets and mops and readied to at least watch the rehearsal. Bobby and his band soon arrived and began rehearsal. Jimi and I acted like we were just taking a break and sat there and watched the entire rehearsal, no one said a word...We had the opportunity to see Bobby and his band work out the kinks on some of the songs, as two of the 'sharpest' janitors that you have ever seen, looked on....Jimi Hendrix loved him some Bobby Bland, he considered him one of the best...’Don't Cry No More’ and ‘St. James Infirmary’, two of Bobby's hits, Jimi and I played with our band. Harry Bachelor was the singer and Harry would have made Bobby proud...I was fortunate in that I did have the opportunity to meet/see Bobby again over the years."

Frankie Reid – vocals
Ian Holland – lead guitar
Brian Mansell – rhythm guitar
Danny McCulloch – bass
Mitch Mitchell – drums
Brian Mansell, a rhythm guitarist from Whitton, Middlesex had been playing with Mike Dee & The Jaywalkers, who changed name to The Condors in April 1962 for one tour. When the band’s guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left to join Screaming Lord Sutch & The Savages, The Condors split and Mansell got a job with Frankie Reid & The Casuals.Tuesday 22 May 1962
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA
Hendrix is given a psychiatric evaluation. Lieutenant Lanford H. DeGeneres reported: "There are no disqualifying mental defects sufficient to warrant disposition through medical channels. The individual... has the mental capacity to understand and participate in the board proceedings”
Squad Leader Gerd H. K. Klepper files a report against Hendrix. [The document has been posted at ‘Smoking Gun’.]

“Word got round that Jimmy was getting out, I heard that Jimmy had been to see every psychiatrist on the base.” [One wonders how many psychiatrists an American army base might require! ]
And:
“Jimmy went to see the army psychiatrist on more than one occasion.” [As is shown in army medical documents at CTT].Monday 14 May 1962
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA
On his yearly routine medical under ‘Physician’s summary’ it is noted Hendrix engages in ‘homosexual-masturbating’, loss of weight, trouble sleeping and personal problems, and on the self evaluation Hendrix ticks the yes box for ‘homosexual tendencies’Paul Caruso: “Ahm, he got out on a ah, on a honourable discharge ahm, by saying ah, that he was homosexual. An’ I thought that he was pretty hip at the time. Ahm, because they just bounced him right out.” Wednesday 23 May 1962
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA
Hendrix fails to report for bed check for the 3rd time. He doesn’t give a reason and is given fourteen days of restriction in building 6781 between 24 May and 6 June.
Specialist Fourth Class James W Mattox files a report against Hendrix for not working and for masturbating in a latrine.

Thursday 24 May 1962
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA
Platoon Sergeant James C. Spears filed a report against Hendrix for missing bed check.[from a document posted at ‘CTT’]..26 May 1962, White Hart, Southall, Middlesex. Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals27 May 1962, Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex. Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals31 May 1962, Gifford School (Northolt, Middlesex?) Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the CasualsMonday 28 May 1962
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA
Sergeant Louis J. Hoekstra filed a statement against Hendrix for missing bed check and being obsessed with his guitar.[from a document posted at ‘CTT’].Thursday 31 May 1962
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA
A request is filed by Captain John T. Halbert to the commanding officer of the 101st Airborne Division that Private James M. Hendrix be discharged from the army. In his report, Captain Halbert writes: "The individual's behavior problems are not amendable to hospitalization and or counselling. Unit punishment has no effect on individual. Apprehended masturbating. Poor character. No known good characteristics. Appears to be an extreme introvert."
Lieutenant Colonel Francis J. Myers also recommends that Hendrix be eliminated from the service and issued an undesirable discharge certificate. [From a document posted at ‘Smoking Gun’.]JUNE 1962C. June 1962.
London
Soon after he joined, Mansell started lobbying for his former band mate, Terry Mabey, to take over from Mitch Mitchell.Friday 1 June 1962
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA
Supply officer Lyndon D. Williams files a report against Hendrix for lack of interest and inability to concentrate. [From a document posted at ‘Smoking Gun’.]Saturday 2 June 1962
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA
Sergeant William R. Bowman files a report against Hendrix for sleeping on duty, for the masturbation incident, and owing money for a laundry bill. [From a document posted at ‘Smoking Gun’.]2 June 1962, St Mary’s Hall, Putney, Surrey. Mitch Mitchell is still with Frankie Reid & the CasualsMonday 4 June 1962
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA
Private Raymond S. Stroble files a report against Hendrix for the masturbation incident [from a document posted at ‘CTT’].9 June 1962, White Hart, Southall, Middlesex.
Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals11 June 1962, Boathouse, Kew, Surrey
Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals14 June 1962, Hatfield College (Hatfield, Hertfordshire?)
Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals15 June 1962, Poplar Town Hall, Poplar, London
Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals16 June 1962, St Mary’s Hall, Putney, Surrey
Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals17 June 1962, Invicta Ballroom, Chatham, Kent
Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals18 June 1962, Howard Hall, Ponders End, Enfield
Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals22 June 1962, Poplar Town Hall, Poplar, London
Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals23 June 1962, White Hart, Southall, Middlesex
Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals25 June 1962, Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex
Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals26 June 1962, Roxeth School, South Harrow, Middlesex
Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the CasualsWednesday 27 June 1962
Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA
Hendrix is given a general discharge certificate from the army. The reason given is "unsuitability—under honorable conditions." The discharge will be effective on 2 July,1962, and he will receive twenty-one days of pay and the clothing he wore when he began service. [From a document posted at ‘Smoking Gun’.]Jimi: “One day, I got my ankle caught in the sky hook, just as I was going to jump and I broke it. I told them I’d hurt my back too. Every time they examined me I groaned, so they finally believed me and I got out.”Paul Caruso: “Ahm, he got out on a ah, on a honourable discharge ahm, by saying ah, that he was homosexual. An’ I thought that he was pretty hip at the time. Ahm, because they just bounced him right out. They liked him well, he had a lot of friends. He had ah, superior officers that he got along with, he was very personable. But he just wanted to make sure he got out. He had a, he had sustained an ankle injury in a parachute jump [PC getting carried away with himself now:] and they were just taking any man they could. They were taking people who were half crippled to Vietnam.”Jake Sawyer (former Pfc. Paratrooper, 327th Infantry, 101st Airborne Division, FC Campbell, Ky., now [1970] man*ager of Martin's Health Clab in Portland): “[He] was a good soldier. He had a lot of guts. That guy used to make a lot of daring jumps. We used to run around in the swamps together, [...] He was a quiet young man who often played his guitar in the barracks.
Hendrix was a pretty straight dude back then, a real health nut. He was pood people, and well-liked by everybody."29 June 1962 Wimbledon Palais, Wimbledon. Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals30 June 1962 St Mary’s Hall, Putney, Surrey. Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals02 July 1962 Jimi is discharged and moves into 411 Glen Street, Clarksville. Billy will not be discharged for another two months. He and Billy are still playing gigs in Clarksville with The Kasuals.02 Clay Pigeon, Eastcote, Middlesex. Mitch Mitchell with Frankie Reid & the Casuals06 July 1962 White Hart, Southall, Middlesex. Mitch Mitchell with Frankie Reid & the Casuals07 July 1962 Atheneon, Muswell Hill, London. Mitch Mitchell with Frankie Reid & the Casuals08 July 1962 Irish club, Cricklewood, Middlesex Mitch Mitchell with Frankie Reid & the Casuals13 July 1962 Woking (Atlanta Ballroom?), Surrey Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the Casuals14 July 1962 Royal Oak, Dagenham, Essex. Mitch Mitchell is with Frankie Reid & the CasualsC. mid July? at some point after the 14th Mansell persuades the group to replace Mitch Mitchell with his former band mate, Terry Mabey.‘Summer’ 1962 London. Mitch plays a brief stint with Peter Nelson & the TravellersVic Briggs: In the summer of 1962 I played for some months with a band called Peter Nelson and The Travellers. Although they were not a great band [...] During the time I was with them, the drummer broke his arm. They brought in a substitute drummer called Mitch Mitchell, later to be one of the members of the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Mitch didn't play with The Travellers for very long but he was there for a band photo session, one of the photos from which is in his book: "With The Experience’. Around that time, Vic began to frequent a music store [‘Marshall’s’, where Mitch worked] a short bus ride away in a town called Hanwell. The store was started by a drum teacher named Jim Marshall [who gave Mitch some lessons] and was renowned for giving support and a fair deal to struggling musicians, as well as for having a great selection of gear [ie Marshall’s high wattage amps etc.].
Mitchell moved onto Johnny Harris & The Shades, Bill Knight & The Sceptres, The Soul Messengers (a band formed from ‘shop boys’ at Jim Marshall’s) and The Next 5.